Human Rights and Sustainable Development Program in Congo DR

Deadline: 4-Jun-25

The European Commission (EC) is accepting applications for the Human Rights and Sustainable Development Program to strengthened partnership with civil society in the implementation of the Global Gateway strategy.

Objective

• The general objective of this call for proposals is to improve the role of civil society as an actor in inclusive sustainable development and the defense of human rights, particularly in the implementation of the EU Global Gateway strategy in the Republic of Congo
• The specific objectives of this call for proposals are:
  • Strengthening civil society participation and promoting human rights in the Kouilou region’s development (Lot 1)
  • Supporting civil society’s commitment to the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities living in/around the Odzala-Kokoua, Conkouati-Douli, and Nouabalé-Ndoki National Parks (Lot 2)
  • Promoting citizen participation and civil society engagement in improving sanitation in Congo’s urban municipalities (Lot 3)

Priorities

• This call for proposals includes three specific lots and the following priorities for all lots:
  • Supporting the active participation of Congolese citizens and civil society organizations in
    • the country’s sustainable development and
    • the promotion of human rights.
  • Continuing efforts to support civil society to strengthen its emergence as an actor capable of contributing to the inclusive development of society and actively promoting the rights of individuals, including the most vulnerable and/or marginalized. Particular attention will be paid to actions that support the inclusion and participation of children, women, girls, youth, people living with disabilities, and indigenous populations.
  • Strengthening the inclusion of civil society in ongoing and future EU projects in the Republic of Congo, particularly within the framework of the Global Gateway strategy.
• Preference will be given to actions which capitalise on or establish synergies with EU-supported programmes or with initiatives having strong impacts on them, in particular:
  • For Lot 1: Support programs for Pointe-Noire’s fishing infrastructure (artisanal and industrial fishing), support for the Loango Bay marine community reserve, and support for the Conkouati-Douli National Park. Actions may also address the opportunities and negative externalities for civil society created by the development of the Pointe-Noire Special Economic Zone.
  • For Lot 2: the AGROVAL Program; the Naturafrica Program (Odzala Kokoua Foundation; Nouabalé Ndoki Foundation; Conkouati-Douli National Park); the Sustainable Wildlife Management Program – Phase 2 (SWM); the Forest Governance Support Project in the Republic of Congo (FLEGT VPA).
  • For Lot 3: the Resilient Cities Program in the Republic of Congo; the Program to Support Civil Society in Congo and its Contribution to Gender Equality for Inclusive Socioeconomic Development. The project “Operationalization of the Oyo Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in the Republic of Congo”
• For all lots, particular attention will also be paid to actions which:
  • promote the role of women and girls as agents of development and change and/or aim to improve their socio-economic status;
  • are presented and coordinated by Congolese CSOs as lead applicants, with the aim of encouraging local ownership;
  • include a sustainability strategy to support the sustainability of actions once the project has ended.
  • contain objectively verifiable indicators that demonstrate progress in strengthening the capacities of local partners;
  • demonstrate links with ongoing EU actions and are integrated into the EU’s Global Gateway strategy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 4,036,005.
• The contracting authority reserves the right not to allocate all available funds.
  • Lot 1 (implementation in the Kouilou department): EUR 847,000
  • Lot 2 (implementation on the outskirts or in the Odzala-Kokoua, Conkouati-Douli, and Nouabalé-Ndoki parks): EUR 689,000
  • Lot 3 (implementation in at least two communes of the following list: Impfondo, Ouesso, Ewo, Owando, Mossaka; Gamboma, Djambala, Odziba, Kinkala, Madingou, Nkayi, Sibiti, Dolisie, Loango, Brazzaville, Black Point): EUR 2,500,0
• Minimum and Maximum
  • Lot 1: Minimum: 423 500 EUR and Maximum: 847 000 EUR
  • Lot 2: Minimum: 344 000 EUR and Maximum: 689 000 EUR
  • Lot 3: Minimum: 625 000 and Maximum: EUR 833 000 EUR

Duration

• The initial planned duration of an action cannot be less than 24 months nor exceed 48 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
  • be a legal entity and
  • have no profit motive and
  • belong to one of the following categories of organizations as defined by Article 46 of the IVCDCI: non-governmental organization, and
  • be effectively established in a Member State of the European Union or other eligible countries as indicated in the IVCDCI
  • be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and the affiliated entity(ies), without acting as an intermediary.

For more information, visit EC.